The NEW “Healthy” – 10 Important Strategies For Improving Your Health

With Holidays, Christmas and the New Year right around the corner, I want to talk about the word “healthy”, because we all know that we’re going to be flooded with weight loss strategies intended to remind us of all of the things we over-enjoyed over the holidays. All those ads will be targeting your need to be “healthy”.

So let’s talk about “healthy”…just because:

a company puts the word “healthy” on their packaging doesn’t guarantee that it will be healthy for your unique body and conditions.

one type of exercise is great for one person doesn’t mean that it will work for your body.

someone says that something is healthy doesn’t mean that it is guaranteed to make your body feel good.

something is “natural”, that does not make it “healthy”…crude oil/petroleum products are “natural”, plants that are known to be poisonous to us are “natural”…enough said.

We are all unique individuals with unique needs…there is so much judgement and pressure to “be healthy” as defined by TV, magazines, the packaging on our food…But is all that really healthy?

A few years ago, I was doing EVERYTHING that was claimed to be healthy and my health continued to decline. I was at my wits end. The harder I tried, the worse it got. I won’t get into all of those details here. Instead, I’ll keep it simple and summarize what “Healthy’ now means to me (my lessons learned).

“Healthy” means feeling good inside and out. The specific steps taken to make one person feel “healthy” will vary from person to person.

Here’s what works for me:

Get adequate sleep. Enough that you can function well when you wake up. Sleep heals our bodies and energizes our souls. I need between 7-9 hours.

Eat foods that make you feel good, meaning that your body functions well and you have energy to take on life. The consistent trend in every “diet” is vegetables and they are the main ingredient to my daily food intake. They make me feel good, perhaps you’ll find a similar result.

PLAY…find healthy outlets for stress because stress hurts our bodies.

“Play” regularly.

Make time for activity that recharges you & leaves you feeling great!

Do things that you enjoy. Life’s too short to drag yourself to do something that you don’t enjoy.

We know that our bodies function better when we stay active and manage our stress levels – so find activities that help you to feel good and give you the strength and energy to do the things that you want to in life. For example, I really want to go cat-skiing, therefore, I know that I need to work on my muscle-strength and cardio to help me have a more enjoyable, injury-free experience.

Experience your emotions – It’s true that you need to feel to heal.

Yes, even the ones like anger, shame & guilt. Give yourself a safe time and place to get curious about and truly feel your emotions (the good and the bad) rather than stuffing them down.

Why? If you keep stuffing them down, the pressure just keeps building and compounding. Feeling and working through your emotions can create space and freedom.

Your emotions are brilliant and tell you something important about you. If you need help, ask for it…please. You can talk to a friend, a coach who works with emotions, to a therapist or psychologist.

Allow yourself to stumble, to fall, to fail and pick yourself up with the love and support of a friend. Know that it’s ok to not be perfect.

Love and accept the true you and know that “you are enough” in whatever state you are in.

Make yourself a priority and appreciate the beautiful combination that makes you unique and “perfectly imperfect”.

Be a good friend to yourself – supportive, kind and nurturing.

Allow yourself to be curious about the things that interest you.

Allow yourself to have adventures – give that hobby a whirl, do something that you know you’re “not good at” but enjoy, try that new food. This is what keeps us alive, is the best stress release I’ve found AND leaves us with no regrets.

Become the CEO of your own life, health and wellness. If you need help, seek it. Remember that you know better than anyone what you are experiencing and medical doctors are NOT the only avenue’s available to assist with your health.

With the new year right around the corner, I encourage you to make yourself a priority, listen to your body and soul and make tweaks (which may be small or large) to find a place where you feel good in your skin and in your soul. If you need help, seek it out. Surround yourself with a supportive network of people.

You only live once and it’s much too short to spend that life only focusing on your waist-line and thighs (your appearance). Instead, focus on finding a balance with your overall balance and create a life that makes your heart happy.

Listening to my heart, making memories, unleashing my inner child and experiencing true connection with others are the secret to my life and wellness…those are the things that make me “healthy”.

What does your version of “healthy” mean?

Happy holidays and I wish you much love and new wonderful memories for the new year,